Hitch Apparatuses and Methods of Securing Hitch Apparatuses

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a configurable trailer hitch that provides an extended towing position for transferring a tractor force to a load, and a retracted storage position for safely stowing the hitch under a towing vehicle. The trailer hitch has a spring loaded retaining pin which engages a hitch receiver when the trailer hitch is placed in the towing position, and a storage latch adapted to hold the hitch receiver when the trailer hitch is placed in the storage position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to trailer hitches and more particularlyto a configurable trailer hitch that can easily be transitioned from atowing position to a stored position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Trailer hitches of many varieties have been available to mount to theframe of towing vehicles and adapted to couple to towable vehicles suchas trailers. Typically, a towing ball is mounted on an arm that extendsoutwardly from the towing vehicle. This arrangement is advantageous whentowing a trailer because it provides a convenient coupling point,providing ample space for turning and maneuvering. However, a trippingand collision hazard is presented to persons passing by the rear of thevehicle when the towing ball is uncoupled. As a remedy, many trailerhitches provide a means to remove the arm and ball when not in use.However, most trailer hitches make no provision for storing the arm andball either on or in the vehicle which increases the probability of lossor unavailability of the arm and ball when they are needed.

There have been various attempts to provide a ball and arm that can berotated from a towing position to a stored position such as shown inU.S. Pat. No. 4,109,930 to Philall that shows a pivotally mounted towbar which may be pivoted to a retracted position. This reference teachesa retractable tow bar that is tucked inside a bumper utilizing a springloaded locking arrangement. Another reference, U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,292to Adair shows a trailer hitch that can be mounted in both a towing andstorage position.

Despite these and other offerings, there continues to be a need for aconfigurable trailer hitch that can be mounted on a vehicle that caneasily be transitioned between a storage position and towing positionwithout the use of tools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention is a configurable trailer hitchapparatus having a towing position for exerting a tractor force on aload, and a storage position, which includes a frame member adapted tomount to a towing vehicle, a top plate fastened to the frame member, abottom weldment positioned in parallel relation to the top plate, ahitch receiver positioned in pivoting relation between the top plate andbottom weldment, a pivot pin positioned through a plurality of aperturesformed in the frame member, top plate, bottom weldment, and hitchreceiver, and forming a pivot therein, a hitch ball assembly fastened tothe hitch receiver, and operable to couple to the load when theapparatus is configured in the towing position, a retaining pinpositioned through the top plate and bottom weldment, and operable tohold the hitch receiver when the apparatus is configured in the towingposition, and a storage latch mounted to the frame member and operableto grasp the hitch receiver when the apparatus is configured in thestorage position.

Another aspect of the present invention is a configurable trailer hitchthat is placed in a towing position by swinging the hitch receiver froman intermediate position while exerting a downward force on theretaining pin until the aperture formed in the wing of the hitchreceiver aligns with the retaining pin, and then releasing the retainingpin so that it engages with the aperture formed in the wing.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is a configurable trailerhitch that is placed in a storage position first by exerting a downwardforce on the retaining pin, and then swinging the hitch receiver in adirection toward the frame member so that it engages the storage latchand is held in the storage position.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be discussed ingreater detail hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below withreference to the following accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the configurable trailer hitch shown inthe towing position.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the top plate.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the bottom plate.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the hitch receiver.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view is the storage latch.

FIG. 6 an isometric view of the configurable trailer hitch in anintermediate position.

FIG. 7 an isometric view of the configurable trailer hitch in thestorage position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of theconstitutional purposes of the U.S. patent Laws “to promote the progressof science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).

Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown an isometric view of aconfigurable trailer hitch apparatus 10 arranged in a towing position.The frame member 12 is adapted to attach to a pair of left and rightmembers (not shown) located on an underside of a vehicle (not shown).The frame member 12 is fabricated from a metal tube of suitableconstruction and size to transfer or couple a towing or tractor load toa vehicle.

A spacer plate 14 is welded to a side of the frame member 12. A wallplate 16 is welded to the frame member 12, and to the spacer plate 14. Atop plate 18 is welded to the spacer plate 14, and extends in aperpendicular manner from the wall plate 16.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the top plate 18 is fabricated from aplate 20 having a first aperture 22 and a second aperture 24 formedtherein. The plate 20 has a first edge 26 positioned at an obliqueangle.

Now referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a bottom weldment 28 is welded tothe wall plate 16, extending in perpendicular relation to the wall plate16, and in parallel relation to the top plate 18. The bottom weldment 28is fabricated by welding a lower plate 30 to a second spacer plate 32. Athird aperture 34 is formed in the second spacer plate 32 and the lowerplate 30. A fourth aperture 36 is formed in the lower plate 30. Oneskilled in the art would readily recognize that the bottom weldment 28could be formed from a single piece of material using an appropriatemilling operation on a single piece of material.

A backstop plate 29 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 7) is mounted in a vertical mannerand welded between the top plate 18 and the bottom weldment 28. Thebackstop plate 29 extends to, and is welded to the wall plate 16. Thetop plate 18, wall plate 16, and bottom weldment 28, and backstop plate29 define a welded assembly 27 that is itself welded to the spacer plate14 and to the frame member 12.

Now referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, a hitch receiver 40 is formed from atube 42 having a fifth aperture 44 and a sixth aperture 46 formedtherein. A wing 48 is welded to an outer wall of the tube 42 and extendsoutward in a transverse manner. A seventh aperture 50 is formed in thewing 48. A collar 52 is fabricated on the tube 42.

The hitch receiver 40 is positioned between the top plate 18 and thebottom weldment 28, and is placed in aligned relation so that the fifithaperture 44 is aligned with the first aperture 22 (FIG. 2), and thesixth aperture 46 is aligned with the third aperture 34 (FIG. 3). Apivot pin 54 is inserted through the frame member 12, and through thefirst, third, fifth, and sixth apertures labeled by the numerals 22, 34,44 and 46 respectively forming a pivot 57. A hitch ball assembly 56 isinserted into the hitch receiver 40 and held in place by a lynch pin(not shown).

Now referring to FIG. 1-FIG. 4, a pin 58 is positioned through thefourth aperture 36 in the bottom weldment 28, and through the secondaperture 25 of the top plate 18. A spring 60, retainer 62, and a handle63 are assembled on the pin 58 forming a retaining pin 64. The retainingpin 64 is inserted through the seventh aperture 50 on the wing 48 whenthe configurable trailer hitch 10 is maintained in a towing position asshown in FIG. 1. In this configuration, a towing force 66 provided bythe vehicle (not shown) intersects or is centered about the pivot 57.

Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, a storage latch 68 is welded to theframe member 12. The storage latch 68 is formed from a strip of metal 70and has a shape that includes an outer lip 71 useful for holding thehitch receiver 40 when it is placed in the storage position.

Now referring to FIG. 6 the configurable trailer hitch 10 is shown in anintermediate position. Here, the hitch receiver 40 and the hitch ballassembly 56 have been released by the pivot pin 64 and rotated about thepivot 57 in a direction generally indicated by the arrow 80.

Now referring to FIG. 7 the configurable trailer hitch 10 is shown in astorage position. Here, the hitch receiver 40 and the hitch ballassembly 56 have been rotated about the pivot 57 in a directiongenerally indicated by the arrow 82 to engage the latch 68.

Operation

The operation of the present invention is believed to be readilyapparent and is briefly summarized in the paragraphs which follow.

In operation, the trailer hitch apparatus 10 is placed in the towingposition as shown in FIG. 1 from the intermediate position shown in FIG.6 by means of swinging the hitch receiver 40 in a direction oppositethat indicated by the arrow designated with the numeral 80 (FIG. 6), andsimultaneously exerting a downward force on the retaining pin 64, untilthe hitch receiver 40 encounters the backstop plate 29. In thisposition, the aperture 50 formed in the wing 48 (FIG. 4) of the hitchreceiver 40 becomes aligned with the retaining pin 64. Once this isachieved, the retaining pin 64 is released so that it engages with theaperture 50 formed in the wing 48 of the hitch receiver 40, holding thehitch receiver 40 in place against the backstop plate 29.

Referring both to FIG. 1 and to FIG. 4, the frame member 12 is adaptedto mount to a towing vehicle (not shown) which is operable to exert atractor or pulling force on a load (not shown) through the hitch ballassembly 56. The hitch ball assembly 56 is fastened to the hitchreceiver 40 in a manner discussed earlier in this specification. Thehitch receiver 40 is maintained in the towing position, as shown in FIG.1, by means of engagement, wherein the retaining pin 64 is insertedthrough the aperture 50 of the wing 48 of the hitch receiver 40 holdingthe hitch receiver 40 against the backstop plate 29. The hitch receiver40 is supported by the second spacer plate 32 of the bottom weldment 28(FIG. 3) and is guided by the top plate 18. The hitch receiver 40 ispivotally supported by the pivot 57, providing a means for the tractoror towing force 66 to be centered about the pivot 57.

Now referring to FIGS. 1, 6, and 7, the trailer hitch apparatus 10 isplaced in the storage position as shown in FIG. 7 from the towingposition shown in FIG. 1 by means of exerting a downward force on theretaining pin 64, and then swinging the hitch receiver 40 in a directiontoward the frame member 12 as indicated by the arrow generally indicatedby the numeral 80 (FIG. 6) causing it to move through the intermediateposition shown in FIG. 6, and continuing to swing the hitch receiver sothat it engages the storage latch 68 with the outer lip 71 extendingbeyond the hitch receiver 40 as shown in FIG. 7.

Now referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the trailer hitch apparatus 10 isplaced in the intermediate position as shown in FIG. 6 from the storageposition FIG. 7 by exerting a downward force on the outer lip 71 of thestorage latch 68, and by swinging the hitch receiver 40 in a directionopposite of that shown by the arrow generally designated by the numeral82 (FIG. 7).

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described inlanguage more or less specific as to structural and methodical features.It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited tothe specific features shown and describe, since the means hereindisclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the proper scope of the appended claimsappropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine ofequivalents.

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A hitch apparatus comprising: a frame memberconfigured to be secured to a towing vehicle; a pivot pin in the framemember; a latch secured to the frame member; and a hitch structurepivotably secured to the pivot pin and capable of pivoting between atowing position and a storage position, the storage position comprisingthe hitch structure secured to the latch.
 12. The hitch apparatus ofclaim 11 wherein the latch comprises a strip of metal.
 13. The hitchapparatus of claim 11 wherein the latch comprises a strip of metalcomprising a receiving section to receive the hitch structure and anouter lip extending at an angle relative the receiving section, theouter lip maintains the hitch structure in receipt with the receivingsection.
 14. The hitch apparatus of claim 11 further comprising aretaining pin securing the hitch structure in the towing position. 15.The hitch apparatus of claim 14 wherein the retaining pin is biased intoan opening of the hitch structure to maintain the hitch structure in thetowing position.
 16. The hitch apparatus of claim 11 wherein the framemember comprises a tubular structure.
 17. A method of securing a hitchapparatus in a position, the method comprising: providing a frame memberconfigured to be secured to a towing vehicle; providing a hitchstructure pivotably secured to the frame member and capable of pivotingin a first direction and a second direction opposite to the firstdirection; and applying a force to the hitch structure in one of thefirst and the second directions to move the hitch structure in the onedirection until the hitch structure reaches a position relative theframe member that results in the hitch structure being substantiallylocked in the position.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the positioncomprises a storage position for the hitch structure.
 19. The method ofclaim 17 further comprising a containment device secured to the framemember, and wherein the position comprises the hitch structure securedonto the containment device.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein thecontainment device comprises a latch.
 21. The method of claim 17 furthercomprising a latch secured to the frame member, the latch comprising aridge to maintain the hitch structure in the position.
 22. The method ofclaim 21 further comprising applying a force to the latch to repositionthe ridge and allow the hitch structure to be moved from the position.23. A method of securing a hitch apparatus in a position, the methodcomprising: providing a frame member configured to be secured to atowing vehicle; providing a hitch structure pivotably secured to theframe member and capable of pivoting in a first direction and a seconddirection opposite to the first direction; applying a pivoting force tothe hitch structure in one of the first and the second directions tomove the hitch structure in the one direction until the hitch structurereaches a position relative the frame member; and applying a biasingforce to the hitch structure to substantially prevent the hitchstructure from moving in the first and the second directions.
 24. Themethod of claim 23 wherein the position comprises a towing position forthe hitch structure.
 25. The method of claim 23 wherein the biasingforce is provided by a spring.
 26. The method of claim 23 furthercomprising: providing an opening in the hitch structure; and providing apin aligned with the opening, and wherein the biasing force is appliedto the pin to force the pin into the opening.
 27. The method of claim 23further comprising applying an opposing force to the biasing force, theopposing force allowing the hitch structure to be moved from theposition.
 28. The method of claim 23 wherein the position comprises astorage position for the hitch structure.